Today, the Royal Navy will remember one its finest hours - when naval aviators from RNAS Culdrose at Helston in Cornwall spearheaded the UK's biggest ever peacetime rescue operation.

Serving and veteran aircrew, survivors and relatives will gather at Cowes, on Friday August 2nd, to mark the 40th anniversary of the Fastnet Yacht Race rescue.

Between August 13 and August 14, in 1979, more than 300 yachts were engulfed by a huge storm as they race from the Isle of Wight, past Land's End and around the imposing Fastnet rock off the south-west coast of Ireland.

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A Royal Navy spokesperson said: "Boats were battered by ferocious winds and huge waves – possibly up to 60ft high – smashing masts and rigging, washing sailors overboard, causing yachts to capsize or, in some cases, pitch-pole, tumbling end over end.

"Having been rolled over multiple times, many yachtsmen chose to abandon their boats and take to their life-rafts – little realising that the rafts would be dashed to pieces by the waves.

A Royal Navy rescue helicopter circles a yacht demasted by the storm Archive picture from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose of Fastnet Disaster 1979

"Nineteen yachtsmen died in the disaster which reached its climax on August 13 and 14 1979 – but 75 people were saved by Fleet Air Arm crews and another 65 picked up by lifeboats and shipping.

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"Dozens of mayday calls and red flares in the early hours of August 14 prompted a massive rescue operation. It is estimated that as many as 4,000 people directly or indirectly took part in the mission.

"In Cornwall, the centre of the huge rescue operation was at RNAS Culdrose, where 15 navy helicopters flew nearly 200 hours of rescue missions. The navy recalled anyone with search and rescue experience from their August holidays as well as bringing in extra aircraft and crews from air stations at Yeovilton, in Somerset, and Prestwick, in Scotland.

"Fifteen helicopters from Culdrose were committed. Anyone with search and rescue experience was recalled from their summer holiday, and extra helicopters and crews were sucked in from other naval air bases including Yeovilton and HMS Gannet in Prestwick.

A Wessex helicopter from 771 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Culdrose, flying on a rescue mission during the Fastnet disaster Archive picture from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose of Fastnet Disaster 1979

"Alongside the navy were 14 RNLI lifeboats which rescued yachtsmen and towed damaged yachts back to port. Also taking part were 3 RAF helicopters, seven warships, four trawlers and four other ships while overhead four RAF Nimrod aircraft provided radar coordination".

Lieutenant Commander Alex Stevenson, HMNB Culdrose’s Operations Officer: "Many of the stories of the aircrews pulling off daring rescues in the face of mountainous seas are truly hair-raising. The Royal Navy – and Culdrose in particular – is rightly proud of the courage and dedication shown by its aircrews and ground staff in this huge rescue operation: 15 helicopters and hundreds of personnel working around the clock.

"A great many people - elsewhere in the military, lifeboat crews and many others – also risked their own lives to save others. The Fastnet disaster and serves as stark reminder of the dangers of the sea.

"I have the honour of representing Culdrose at the memorial service in Cowes.

“It will be a time for us to remember those who lost their lives and serves as stark reminder of the dangers of the sea. We also remember the great many people - elsewhere in the military, the lifeboat crews and many others - who risked their own lives to save others.

The view from a Royal Navy helicopter of a lifeboat battling waves during the Fastnet rescue Archive picture from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose of Fastnet Disaster 1979

“The Royal Navy, and Culdrose in particular, is rightly proud of the courage and dedication shown by its aircrews and ground staff in this huge rescue operation. It involved 15 navy helicopters and hundreds of personnel working around the clock. Many of the stories of the aircrews pulling off daring rescues in the face of mountainous seas are truly hair-raising.

“Although UK search and rescue now lies with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, it is important that, as a maritime force, the navy continues to train for every eventuality. Although our crews use a more modern aircraft, the same flying skills, teamwork and dedication that was clearly demonstrated 40 years ago is just as valid today for our sailors flying off the back of frigates or the navy’s new aircraft carriers.”

Alongside the navy were 14 RNLI lifeboats which rescued yachtsmen and towed damaged yachts back to port.

Three RAF helicopters, seven warships, four trawlers and four other ships supported the effort, while overhead four RAF Nimrods helped to coordinate the search effort over 10,000 square miles of ocean. In all, around 4,000 military and civilians were involved in the huge rescue mission.

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The Fleet Air Arm handed over civilian search and rescue duties to the Coastguard at the beginning of 2016, but many SAR veterans continue to serve and, crucially, rescue training continues unabated as RN helicopter crews have a duty to rescue military personnel in peril at sea – from warships sinking or in difficulty, to saving aircrew forced to ditch.

And there’s still a sizeable number of search-and-rescue veterans serving such as Culdrose’s operations officer Lieutenant Commander Alex Stevenson.